node mistaken for breast lump - Lymphomas Message Board

Sylvia224 · 05-10-2004, 05:46 PM

Hello: 0I am 28 years old, and generally in good health. At my annual pap/pelvic/breast exam, my nurse practitioner found a lump in my right breast up near my armpit, and she let me feel it. It seemed small and hard. She sent me for a mammogram and an ultra-sound. The imaging people found nothing in the mammogram and nothing with the ultra sound. They decided to do the ultra sound a second time, "closer to my armpit." On examining the film, the radiologist determined that the lump my doctor had found was a lymph node.
What does that mean? Is the node swollen, or is it always something that can be felt? (Incidentally, I could not feel it when I tried again at home, but that means nothing because I’m very squeamish and don’t tend to push very hard). I can’t think of any cuts or anything, other than razor burn, that might have caused an infection.
Does this sound like cancer to you all? What should I do next?
Thanks very much for reading.

ysco · 05-10-2004, 06:59 PM

Not every palpable node is cancer... that's a utterly wrong conception. Palpable (normally pea-sized) nodes are fairly common, especially in thin people. Since you omitted more details as what is this node's size and if it continues to enlarge, there is no indication to tell you whether it is worth further testing or not.

My advice is that you see your GP and let him or her examine the node and conclude whether it is suspicious or just a normal or reactive node. It is needless to say the vast majority of the palpable nodes are not cancer.

franmyers · 06-03-2004, 09:45 AM

Hi, I had a lesion removed from my leg that first was said to have b-cell carcinoma and it was removed. Two other biopsies of extracted skin said lymphoma and one pseudolymphoma. I had the lesion for 5 years and it also appeared with an enlarged lymph node to my left breast. I just had the lymph node removed and it was benign. (shew) So do not worry until you have all the facts.
God Bless
Fran